18 August 2010

Welcome to our August 2010 newsletter. We've sent it to you either because you've been to our website and signed-up to receive it, or because you've previously enquired about one of our rentals, or because you've stayed with us before. If your email system is having problems displaying it properly click here.

We send out some 4/6 newsletters a year, approximately every 2 months though it can sometimes be shorter or longer depending on what there is to tell you, covering such topics as: interesting and unusual things to do and see in London, Paris, Rome and New York over the coming months, new or unusual properties that have joined our listings, tips on how to make the most of your visit to London, Paris, Rome and New York, and special deals.

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Harley Nott
Coach House Rentals - live like a local
London - Paris - Rome - New York
www.chsrentals.com

The large number of overseas visitors to London, Paris and Rome this summer confirms that, at $/£1.55, $/€1.27 and
€/£1.21, exchange rates for visitors to the UK and Europe are still very favourable. As the summer heat cools and the crowds disperse with most people getting back to work, autumn is a favoured time for the more discerning visitor.

Thursday 25 - Sunday 28 November is US Thanksgiving weekend and a popular time for a quick break before the run-up to Christmas. It's a good opportunity for early Christmas shopping. Click the links to help you find the right stores: London, Paris, Rome and New York

Autumn is a good time to visit, particularly as August and September are the only months when Buckingham Palace and The Palace of Westminster (Houses of Parliament) are open to the public. Follow the links for more details.

On the weekend of 18 and 19 September you also have the chance to peek inside some 600 of the capital's most famous buildings and best-kept architectural secrets on London Open House Weekend. Explore the Foreign Office, the Bank of England and other landmark buildings that are normally obscured from public view. More details.

Looking ahead to October and November you can have two uniquely British experiences:

5 November - Bonfire Night. Bonfires are lit and there are fireworks displays all over London (and the UK) to commemorate the Gunpowder Plot, an attempt to blow up James I and his Parliament. The plot's most famous conspirator, Guy Fawkes, ("The Guy") is burned as an effigy. Although the official anniversary is on the 5th, bonfires and firework displays start up to 2 weeks before and go on for a week after the actual date. More details and history

13 November - The Lord Mayor's Show. The first Lord Mayor's Show was held in 1215 when King John's Charter stipulated that the new Lord Mayor must swear an oath of allegiance to the King and also to literally 'show' himself to the people. Since then only major disasters such as the Black Death have stopped the Show. From 1422, and for centuries after, the procession travelled down the River Thames - hence the term 'floats', but since 1757 Lord Mayors have travelled in the famous ceremonial gold coach. Now it's a day out for half a million people with many more watching on television. The festivities culminate in a fine firework display set off from a barge on the Thames. More details.

Click here to see other London events and plan your stay.

Discover The "Passages Couverts". No matter how often you visit Paris, there's always some hidden gem to discover. In the early 1800s, glass-covered passages were built to protect shoppers from the rain. Explore these unique arcades on your own or take a tour. Read more

Paris-Versailles Race/Walk - 26 September. Walkers and fun runners have been taking part in the annual Paris-Versailles Walk, "grande classique", for more than 30 years. It starts on the steps of the Eiffel Tower and ends 16km away at the Chateau de Versailles. Full details and how to register.

New Paris Rentals. We have recently added a number of new rentals to our portfolio These are in the popular 5th (The Latin Quarter) and the Marais. Check them out!.

September and October are the best and among the most popular months to visit Rome. The fiery heat of July and August has cooled a little and you can still eat and drink outside, without feeling chilly, until late at night. Autumn is the season of harvest festivals, so head out to the small towns around Rome to sample delicacies such as local cheeses, sausages, chestnuts and mushrooms.

There's so much to do and see in "the Eternal City" that it merits a stay of at least 5 days, preferably more. Go to our Rome website to see the accommodation we offer and a suggestion of what to see and do.

Did you know?
Colosseum (Il Colosseo) - Undoubtedly the greatest amphitheatre in antiquity and proof of the grandeur of the Roman Empire, the Roman Colosseum was built by Vespasian about 1900 years ago. Originally capable of seating 45,000 to 50,000 spectators, it held gladiator contests and shows involving simulations of naval battles and fights with lions.
Sistine Chapel (Cappella Sistina) - was completed in 1481 for Pope Sixtus IV. The walls are decorated with frescoes. However the chapel is most famous for the ceiling. In 1508 Pope Julius II hired Michelangelo to decorate the ceiling, a task which took four years. In 1536 Michelangelo was again called upon. This time it was Pope Paul III who hired the master to make a fresco of the Last Judgment on the rear wall behind the altar. This was finished in 1541.
You will find these, and another 99 interesting things to see and do in Rome at: 101 Things to do in Rome.

You may have heard that short lets in New York City are now illegal. While this is not true at the moment - from 1 May 2011 it might be. The "subletting" bill which has been designed to crack down on illegal hotels that cause problems for permanent residents. However, as it currently stands, the bill will also make the majority of short "vacation-rentals" illegal.
How does it affect you? If you were planning vacation rental stay in New York - do it now, or before 1 May 2011, while short stay vacation rentals are definitely still OK..

September and October are the among the best months to visit New York. The oppresive heat and humidity of July and August is gone and there is a freshness again in the air. Central Park decked in autumn colours is at it's best.

New York Restaurant Week has been extended to 6th September. Started in 1992 by a group of local restaurateurs and food-industry types as a way to drum up business during that year's Democratic National Convention, New York Restaurant Week has evolved into the single largest dining celebration in the United States. In 1992, 25 restaurants took part, charging $19.92 for a three-course prix-fixe lunch over the course of one week. Today, more than 250 restaurants participate, most offering a three-course prix-fixe dinner ($35) on top of a lunch deal that - at $24.07 - has barely risen in 18 years. Full details - with menus.

The New York Film Festival, Lincoln Center September 24 - October 10 has screened new and important cinematic works by film makers from around the world since 1963. If you are a film buff - this is for you. More details.

Despite the impending ban, which we are confident will be overturned in the courts, Coach House Rentals continues to offer a good selection of properties of all sizes for New York City vacation rentals. Go to our New York site to see details of our properties and our service.

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